A Pilot Study on the Effect of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Foot Reflexology on Intraocular Pressure in Ocular Hypertension

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy that is increasing in prevalence worldwide and can lead to devastating vision loss and even blindness if left untreated. Current medical and surgical approaches to glaucoma treatment all aim to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), which is a well-known risk factor for glaucoma development and progression. Although the exact pathogenesis of glaucoma is not yet fully elucidated, multiple studies suggest that mental stress and elevated cortisol levels may contribute to IOP elevation and glaucomatous progression. In recent decades, various randomized-controlled trials have also demonstrated a significant reduction of IOP in patients practicing stress-reduction techniques, including mindfulness meditation and yoga. In this review, we discuss the relationship between mental stress and glaucoma and review the supporting literature to highlight the potential role of mindfulness meditation as an adjunctive strategy to reduce stress and thereby lower IOP in glaucoma patients.

show abstract

Effect of yoga on intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma

Chetry

Singh

Chhetri

et al. 2023

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, with an estimated 57.5 million people suffering from glaucoma globally. Treatment of glaucoma focuses on lowering intra-ocular pressure to prevent progression of visual field defects, which is the only proven method for treating this disease. Yoga practices are believed to lower intra-ocular pressure in the eyes and prevent further damage in patients with glaucoma. Therefore, this systematic review was planned to explore the available scientific studies on yoga and intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were the basis for the investigation of the literature. The Jadad Scale was used to assess the quality of included clinical trials, and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the quality of included case studies. Based on the quality assessment and eligibility, six studies on yoga and intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients carried out between 2007 and 2021 were included in the final review. The results showed a reduction in intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma through Jyoti-trataka (gazing steadily on a point or candle flame) and some other slow yogic breathing techniques, whereas studies on inversion Asanas (yoga postures) showed a rapid increase in intra-ocular pressure soon after starting. The three high-quality RCTs included in the meta-analysis showed a greater improvement in intra-ocular pressure in the yoga groups in both eyes than in the control groups; however, there were some limitations related to a small sample size, study quality, a long-term follow-up period, and variations in the yoga practices. Therefore, further studies with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are needed to overcome the limitations for a better understanding.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

A Pilot Study on the Effect of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Foot Reflexology on Intraocular Pressure in Ocular Hypertension

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on autonomic functions, ocular hypertension, and quality of life in elderly with systemic hypertension and high-tension primary open-angle glaucoma

Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on autonomic functions, ocular hypertension, and quality of life in elderly with systemic hypertension and high-tension primary open-angle glaucoma

The Role of Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Meditation in Glaucoma Management: A Review

Effect of yoga on intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About